LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Sandhills Global Youth Complex announced a new hiring and a new agreement with the University of Nebraska, Monday. 

The Sandhills Global Youth Complex announced the hiring of Joe Fagler, its inaugural complex director, and a ten-year agreement with the UNL for a practice field for NU baseball and softball. 

Fagler will oversee all complex operations including facility scheduling of local, regional and national tournaments, local youth programming and complex marketing. 

“Joe was selected from an extensive pool of very qualified candidates.” said Charlie Colon, Board Chair for the Sandhills Global Youth Complex. “His lifelong love and engagement with baseball began with his involvement with the Babe Ruth Baseball League in 1992 here in Lincoln.”

Fagler will begin his new role as complex director for the complex on July 17.

“He graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University after being a four-year member of the NWU baseball team and has held numerous youth coaching positions throughout the city,” said Colon. “We couldn’t have been more excited to have Joe as our complex director.”

The complex also announces that the University of Nebraska Athletic Department will utilize one of the fields as a practice facility for the Husker baseball and softball teams.

“Nebraska Athletics is pleased to partner with the Sandhills Global Youth Complex on an agreement to provide additional practice space for our Husker baseball and softball programs,” said Troy Dannen, Athletic Director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Colon also gave a brief update on the complex’s construction and anticipated opening, set for 2025. 

“The lights are installed, the backstop poles are being erected, fencing is going in and later this summer, turf will be installed, and buildings will begin to take shape,” said Colon. “It looks great. Our board and partners can’t wait until we’re able to say ‘play ball’ next spring.”